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II Chronicles 13:17

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Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 17

We have here a much fuller account of the reign of Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, than we had in the Kings. There we found that his character was no better than his father's - he "walked in the sins of his father, and his heart was not right with God," Kg1 15:2, Kg1 15:3. But here we find him more brave and successful in war than his father was. He reigned but three years, and was chiefly famous for a glorious victory he obtained over the forces of Jeroboam. Here we have, I. The armies brought into the field on both sides (Ch2 13:3). The remonstrance which Abijah made before the battle, setting forth the justice of his cause (Ch2 13:4-12). III. The distress which Judah was brought into by the policy of Jeroboam (Ch2 13:13, Ch2 13:14). IV. The victory they obtained notwithstanding, by the power of God (Ch2 13:15-20). V. The conclusion of Abijah's reign (Ch2 13:21, Ch2 13:22).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 17

אֲבִיָּה (ʼĂbîyâh, H29) — Abijah, the name of several Israelite men and two Israelitesses עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) מַכָּה (makkâh, H4347) — a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… חָלָל (châlâl, H2491) — pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… בָּחַר (bâchar, H977) — properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…

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Cross-references

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II Chronicles 28:6rank 2

For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Isaiah 37:36rank 2

Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

II Chronicles 13:3rank 2

Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor.

I Corinthians 10:22rank 2

Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Nahum 1:5rank 2

The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence— the world and all its dwellers.

II Chronicles 13:12rank 2

Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

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